Homemade Marshmallows!

 If you are anything like me, you've purchased marshmallows at the store your entire life and never gave much thought to "how" they were made. If they ever crossed your mind, the thought was fleeting. 

Standard Homemade Marshmallows

So when I saw a post a few weeks back about homemade marshmallows, I decided I HAD to try making them. I mean really, if that blogger could do it, I certainly could. Right!

So I set out to find the recipe I wanted to use and settled on Alton Brown's Marshmallow Recipe. I like his for several reasons. First, he has a video posted with the recipe so you can actually WATCH him make them first. (This eliminates the "duh" moments) And secondly, he's very scientific and I know I can trust his recipes.

So here is the recipe I used. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html. I do recommend you watch the video he has posted.

Marshmallows are STICKY. In fact, so sticky, that I believe you will lose about 1/5 of your mix to the mixing bowl and spatula because you won't be able to get it off. Thank goodness for hot water! With that in mind, imagine how hard your mixer will be working. I DO NOT recommend you make homemade marshmallows with a hand mixer. The mixer will burn up and leave you with a sore hand and a sticky, soupy, mess! I also have to say that if you have a smaller KitchenAid stand mixer (about 4.5 qt), that you keep a close eye on it! I used my 6 quart and it got HOT and you could hear the strain the motor was under.

Now, if you want to get fancy, you can take those yummy marshmallows and using chocolate and other treats, you can fancy up your marshmallows to use them as gifts for the Holiday's.

Dark Chocolate and Toffee Marshmallows

Peppermint Crunch Marshmallows

Dark Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows. In the mug are Kahlua and Coffee Marshmallows! 

 Okay... so I know the next question... Kahlua and Coffee?!? Yep, and I'll share that variation shortly. Just think about some yummy grown-up Hot Chocolate with those little babies on top. mmmmmm Yummy!

Also coming shortly, how to make those cute Melted Snowman S'Mores.

They are AMAZINGLY good! I mean... I'll likely give them as gifts this Christmas good because they are better tasting than ANY S'More I've ever had in my life! I've even given several out as taste tests. It's so much fun watching the faces and hearing the noises that come from people as they enjoy!


 Happy Baking! 

Melted Snowman S'Mores... Mmmmmm

 

Last night I tried making Marshmallows for the first time. I'll share photos of the actual "marshmallow's" later. But in keeping with tradition, I had to try making snowmen out of marshmallows BUT I wanted them to be REALLY tasty.

So I took some graham crackers, split them in 1/2, and cut off the sharp corners. Then I dipped them in milk chocolate. After they cooled, I made homemade marshmallows, and piped the marshmallow onto the prepared graham cracker. Once they set up for a bit, I got my royal icing together and decorated them. And of course, I'm a fan of glitter, so I made them sparkle with a little rainbow disco dust. (totally optional, but for me, it's a sickness! lol).

 

 I'll put together a tutorial later. And let me tell you, I'll NEVER be able to stomach a standard s'more ever again. My husband LOVES these and my 6 year old ate one for breakfast! ha ha ha (Shhhh... don't tell)

 

 Happy Baking, Caking, and Decorating!

Melting Snowman Cookies for Valentine's Day.

I used my Double Chocolate Cookie Recipe as the base of these Snowmen. They cookie was cut out with a heart cutter. Disco Dust was added to make them shimmer.

I think these would make great "break-up" cookies. I know... it would be a miserable way to break the news... but doesn't it look like their relationship is ending?! ha ha ha


This poor sad snow couple. They are trying to hold on, but they know the end is near...


Double Chocolate Cookies

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

1 cp butter
1 pkg Chocolate Pudding
3/4 cp Sugar
3/4 cp Brown Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla

Combine the above ingredients and mix.

2 Eggs(room temperature)

Add Eggs and mix

2 cps. All Purpose Flour
2/3 cp. Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt

Combine these ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk together lightly to incorporate. Then gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients just until they are thoroughly combined. Do Not Over Mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.




Marshmallow Melting Snowman Cookie Tutorial.

A moment in the spotlight on AllRecipes.com

It's silliness I know but that doesn't change the fact that I'm excited and giddy! My Marshmallow Melted Snowman Cookie with a link to the tutorial is currently on the home page of AllRecipes.com! A special thank you to EVERYONE for helping make this cookie what is! And a special thank you to Meaghan Mountford for her ingenious idea!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Meet Meaghan and Mr. Melty!

Back in the winter of 2008 I saw a cookie on the Cake Central Website (Mr. Melty above) and fell in love. true to form, if I see something I like, I use it as a launch pad for creativity.

So, using what I saw as inspiration, made those cookies and brought them to Christmas parties and gave them out to my nieces and nephews for Christmas. I used a marshmallow because a ball of fondant didn't sound appetizing to me but I could just picture kids eating the marshmallow off the top of the cookie. I did post pictures of them on my blog, but they weren't all that impressive and nobody really paid any attention.
Fast forward to 2009 and I decided to make those cookies again. They turned out soooo cute this time and when I posted them, there was quite a fuss. Everyone wanted to know how I got the marshmallow on and made it look like it was also melting. After receiving an over abundance of e-mails, private messages, and comments, I decided that rather than sending one message at a time explaining the process, it would be easier to put together a tutorial showing how I made them.

It took off and my marshmallow headed snowman cookie has gone bonkers all over the internet. BUT if you will remember, I mentioned at the very beginning that I originally saw a cookie that inspired all of this. At the time, I was not aware who the creator was, that she had a blog, or that she had a tutorial for the original. Had I known all of that, I may have handled things differently.

When I was made aware, I made sure to give her credit but I get the feeling that nobody really reads that part of the tutorial because the comments keep coming back about "how clever" I am. Maybe you are all referring to the marshmallow... But I really think that it's important for you to recognize that I'm not really all that clever. *wink*

Meet Meaghan...

...of The Decorated Cookie. Your Mr. Melty was ingenious! Such an adorably clever idea and one that has created a most adorable cookie craze. I have never had a cookie or treat strike a creative chord in me like he did. In fact, I get the impression that there are LOTS of ladies out there that feel the same way I do. So thank you for giving me the desire to whip out the royal icing and have some winter cookie fun.

Melted Snowman Cookie Tutorial

Last year I made a tutorial on these adorable cookies. Since it's that time of year again, I thought I'd let you know that I moved the tutorial over to my website in the new tutorial section. You can access the tutorial HERE!

ADDED 12/9/2010:
Thanks to my wonderful brother and Davis Services Group for making the tutorials and recipes on my website interactive!!! You can now post comments directly on the website! http://www.trulycustomcakery.com/tutorials/25.html



You can contact Dan here: Dan@davisservicesgroup.com if you need website help!

More Reader Photo's of Melted Snowman Cookies

I just love that you guys keep sending in photos of your melted snowman cookies. It is such fun seeing all the variations and reading your stories. So here are some more. Keep them coming...

And remember, snowmen can survive through March! Add a little twist and put a candy heart in their hand or a cinnamon heart on the chest for Valentine's Day. In fact... I'd love to see some Valentines Day Variations! Are you up for the Challenge???

(Beware of Yellow Snow)

Share your Melted Snowman Coookie Photos!

If you made the Melted Snowman Cookies following my tutorial, please send your photos with your name to StaceysSweetShop@gmail.com and I'll gladly post your photos on my blog. What a fun way to see how everyone personalized their cookies!